Canon EOS M5 Boasts Overhauled Design and New Features: First Look

Is the Canon EOS M5 the mirrorless compact interchangeable-lens camera Canon fans have been waiting for? Its predecessors, most recently the 24MP M3 and 18MP M10, were boxy affairs that didn’t generate a lot of excitement. The M5, however, is the first M-series camera with a built-in electronic viewfinder, as well as numerous feature upgrades. In addition to the M5, Canon today also introduced two new EF-M mount lenses, an 8.3x (29-240mm) power zoom and a fast-focusing 70-300mm tele zoom model for its EF-mount DSLRs.

Canon EOS M5 Key Features:

• 24MP CMOS APS-C sensor
• ISO range 100-25,600
• 7fps burst rate
• Full HD (1080) video at 60p
• 5-Axis Image Stabilization
• 2,360k resolution EVF
• Touch and Drag AF
• 3.2-inch tilt-screen monitor
• Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth
• EF-M lens mount

Unlike its predecessors, which were boxy affairs that lacked built-in viewfinders, the M5 has a DSLR-like form factor with a built-in, high-resolution electronic viewfinder housed within a housing that looks much like a DSLR’s reflex mirror box housing. It is a bit heavier (by about 3-5 ounces) than the M3 and M10, and slightly larger, to accommodate the EVF housing.

One of the M5’s key features is the EVF and LCD monitor combination—and how they work together. The M5 introduces Touch and Drag AF, which lets you manually move the AF frame for more precise focusing. You can view the image through the viewfinder while dragging the AF frame using the LED monitor’s touchscreen. The monitor itself is a little bit larger at 3.2 inches, and tilts 85 degrees up and 180 degrees down, and has a resolution of 1,620k dots. The 2,360k electronic viewfinders is one of the highest resolution EVFs currently available.

For low-light shooting, the M5 has digital image stabilization with 5-axis stabilization for video, and both in-camera digital plus lens optical stabilization when shooting with an IS lens. That, combined with the camera’s top ISO of 25,600, make it a good choice for low-light photography. The shutter speed range will be 30-1/4000 sec, with a top flash sync speed of 1/200 sec.

High-speed photography has been given a major upgrade. While the M3 and M10 boasted 4.2 and 4.6 fps, respectively, the M5’s burst rate has been retooled—it can zip along at a speedy 7fps, and at up to 9fps with AF lock. Canon says the new DIGIC 7 image processor promotes improved AF tracking performance.

Like the Canon M3, the M5 has a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor, higher resolution than the 18MP sensor in the M10. Also, similarly, the camera retains 1080p video resolution, but at a higher 60p frame rate. Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC wireless capabilities have been augmented by Bluetooth Smart, for smooth pairing with compatible iOS and Android phones and tablets.

The Canon EOS M5 will be available from Adorama in Late November; Adorama is accepting pre-orders now. Body only price is . It is also available in a kit with the 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens for , and in a kit with the new EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens (see below) for . Orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Credit cards will not be charged until orders are shipped.

Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens

Canon today also introduced its first EF-M high-power zoom lens, covering an extended 8.3x optical zoom range that makes it well-suited for a wide variety of photos, including travel, sports, and family photos. With the M line’s APS sensor, the lens covers the equivalent of a 29-240mm lens on a 35mm sensor camera. Despite its long range, the lens is compact (2.4 inches long) and weighs in at just under 11 ounces. It has a magnification of 0.31x at 150mm, and image stabilization that Canon claims is effective at up to 4 stops. A panning feature is used for following fast-moving subjects, adjusting the panning speed based on the subject’s progress.

The lens will also have full-time manual focus, 7 circular aperture blades, and will take 55mm filters. It is constructed of 13 groups and 17 elements, including one UD and two aspherical lenses.

The Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM will come in black or silver for $499, and will be available at the end of 2016.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Lens

Taking the place of the older 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens, the new Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens is an affordably-priced tele zoom that is compatible with both full-frame and APS sensor Canon EOS DSLRs. (It covers the equivalent of a 105-450mm lens on an APS sensor camera.)

New features include a Lens Information Display, which shows focus distance, focal length and shake amount. Canon says Image Stabilization adds 4 stops of shake correction, while the 9 blade circular aperture produces pleasing bokeh. The lens boasts high-speed autofocus for shooting stills and silent, smooth autofocus for videos, via built-in NANO USM technology.

The lens features full-time manual focus, 12 groups and 17 elements including one UD element. It accepts 67mm filters and weighs 25 oz.

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens will be available from Adorama for .